Mage Adam

"...The value of this question depends on your choices. Now Miss Ophelia can test it first."

Ofelia stepped forward with excitement, and pressed her hands on the crystal ball full of expectation. Although she couldn't keep up with Adam's speed, she was faster than Crystal. But the strange thing was that other people, including Adam, The fillings in the inner crystal ball are almost white, but the crystal ball under Ophelia's hand is black and red.

Ophelia didn't understand the meaning of the color of the crystal ball, she just wanted to know what her mage tendency was, but the crystal ball didn't respond after it was filled.

Ophelia was a little panicked, and pressed the crystal ball hard again, but there was still no light. She couldn't help but pale, "Could it be that my aptitude is poor?"

"It's all right, Miss Ophelia." Mage Black waved lightly, and a breeze appeared to bounce Ophelia away. Although the crystal ball was miraculous, it was just a simple alchemy product after all, and it couldn't withstand the ravages of a great knight.

Ophelia stood there helplessly, looking at Master Black's pleading face: "Dear Master Black, I think I can try again, it shouldn't be like this..."

Mage Black signaled her to be calm, and then said: "Don't be alarmed, Miss Ophelia, as I said, there are many ways to be a mage, and some mage tendencies will not make the crystal ball shine, but this does not mean that you are qualified. low."

Then he turned to Earl Johnson and asked, "Count, do you need my answer? This answer is worth two-fifths of the income of a small energy mine."

"Of course, Mage Black."

Adam wrote down what Master Black said. Although there is only this sample in front of him, there may be errors in judging from it, but if Master Black is not particularly upright, this situation shows that the principle of fair trade between mages is upheld.

If the judgment is true, it is undoubtedly a good thing, which shows that the mage world has broken away from the original law of the jungle and has evolved to the stage of civilization.

After the transaction was established, Mage Black said in detail: "Including me, the souls of most mages tend to be elements, but elements are not the whole path of a mage. Miss Ophelia has a talent that is different from elemental magic. We call this path the Body Refining Mage."

"Elemental mages pursue the sublimation of the soul. We engrave knowledge into the soul. The body is the carrier that carries the soul, and it evolves passively as the soul strengthens. Unlike body mages, although they also need knowledge, they apply knowledge to the body. In terms of development, we pursue the evolution of the essence of life, and the power of the body drives the sublimation of the soul."

"Moreover, Miss Ophelia is very talented in this area. Because of the clear path of a body-training mage, there is no bottleneck in the process from the apprenticeship stage to the first-level mage stage. But everything has advantages and disadvantages. In contrast, A body-refining mage needs a huge amount of resources..." Mage Black paused, as if he had thought of something, he was amazed, "At a high level, even the resources of the entire plane are not enough for one person to consume."

Adam understands that this is an advanced version of the Knight's Road, but there is a problem. The body tissue of carbon-based life forms cannot carry such a large amount of energy. How can a body-refining mage do it?

As a strong man who has reached the peak of knighthood, Earl Johnson also understands this problem, but the reason why mages are mages is because the knowledge they master can do unimaginable things, so he didn't worry about this, but asked: "Dear Master Black, what are the resources? Energy veins?"

Master Black said: "Oh, let me tell you this question for free. Energy stone is the lowest-level resource available to mages, and its value is not as high as you think. After reaching a high level, a body-refining mage needs It is the body tissue of a large number of advanced creatures from other planes, and, well, this is still too far away for you.

"

Master Black's explanation stayed here, and said to the apprentices: "You have one night to pack your bags and say goodbye to your family. After breakfast tomorrow morning, we will set off for Mordo College."

Earl Johnson signaled Ophelia to wait for him to come back, while he himself guided the mage to leave for a rest.

Several newly promoted mage apprentices greeted each other as they walked. The three male apprentices were named Mike Gast, Henry Hugh, and Sam Eden. They were all from noble families, and Costrill, like Adam, had no surname .

They are all very curious about Adam, there is no way, they have never heard of such a noble descendant in the Northland, and Master Black made it clear that Adam's talent is the highest among all people, and the noble instinct allows them to make good friends with everything they can. , even if you can't be a partner, don't be an enemy.

"My name is Adam." Adam's expression was still expressionless, but the etiquette was in place, which did not appear arrogant. Sophistication of the world and even aristocratic etiquette are a procedural matter for Adam. It is impossible for him to deliberately stand alone in this respect. It does not show uniqueness, but only proves stupidity.

Several people waited for Adam to say his surname, and at the same time became a mage apprentice, and already had a special relationship. The family could use this as a reason to cooperate, but...

"Civilian, no surname."

The impeccable smiles on the faces of the three male apprentices froze, commoner? It was already an accident that Crystal was able to participate in the test. How did such an accident happen for the second time? Has Earl Johnson turned to charity?

On the contrary, Crystal had a big smile on her face. Although her status changed suddenly, the habits she had developed over the past ten years made her instinctively fear the nobles. Adam's commoner status as hers made her feel close.

Also because of habit, even though the three descendants of nobles still smiled, the sense of intimacy disappeared. Fortunately, they were not stupid and did not show disdain or contempt in person.

At the fork, Adam stopped and said goodbye. Crystal didn't respond, and also left. She wanted to go home to share today's good news with her parents and younger brother, and share the last reunion.

But the other three were surprised again, a commoner can actually live in the city lord's mansion? Moreover, the direction Adam left was towards the inner palace, and it was obviously impossible for the servants to live in the inner palace.

After the three of them looked at each other, they found that the other people had the same doubts as themselves, and they all decided to go home and ask their father carefully, not to offend someone who shouldn't be offended by a moment of arrogance.

Adam returned to his residence to continue his work on optimizing the runes of spiritual power. At the same time, in the main hall of the Lord's Mansion, Earl Johnson was having an awkward conversation with Ophelia.

"First of all, congratulations on becoming a mage apprentice. I look forward to calling you Mage Ophelia Johnson in my lifetime."

"Johnson." Ophelia laughed at herself and then fell silent. This family always has a strange ability to make her good mood disappear.

Earl Johnson didn't care. Freezing three feet didn't happen in a day. This word may not exist in this world, but the reason is the same. He didn't expect his daughter to change his attitude suddenly. In fact, the attitude is not important, but the surname Johnson is important.

"Two-fifths of the income from the energy mine will be given to Mage Black, and the remaining three-fifths will be your family's support. The northern land is barren, and only this one mine has been found so far. I will mobilize manpower to continue searching."

Ophelia remained silent.

"I agreed to participate in the test for Crystal. It was just a tentative investment, but I didn't expect the benefits to be foreseen so soon. She is very important. There is absolutely no reason for Master Black's attitude. The family and the world of mages There is no contact, but Crystal can get preferential treatment from the mage, and befriending her will be of great help to you."

If you ignore the family words that Earl Johnson kept mentioning in his words, this should be a harmonious father-daughter dialogue, but now, for Ophelia, who has instinctive resistance to the family, she can't be moved at all.

"Also, don't invest too much in Adam, no matter what it is. I can't feel any kind of breath from him, but it seems to be facing a mage. He has no feelings, and he will definitely not help because of feelings. you."

Ophelia couldn't help but said, "I didn't..."

Earl Johnson said unceremoniously: "Ask your own heart. There is no best. If there is something, I hope you will listen to me. Whether it is because you are my daughter or family interests, I will not harm you this time."

Ophelia bowed her head and fell silent again.

"However, that's fine. A transaction based on pure interests is the simplest and strongest. If you can give him the resources he needs, he will do what he should do." Earl Johnson said sharply.

"After I reached a deal with Master Black just now, I didn't drive away the other apprentices. My daughter, if you are not an idiot, you should know what I mean by doing so. Use this opportunity to gradually draw them in through your identity, and even Subdue them. There has never been a single person who can reach the peak alone, ordinary people can't do it, and I believe mages can't do it either."

The conversation ended, and Earl Johnson got up, "Finally, congratulations again, and wish you smooth sailing and a smooth journey." After speaking, he walked out of the main hall without looking at Ophelia again.

Leaving Ophelia alone in a messy mood, her rationality told her that this was not caring, but an exchange of interests between the two, but now she still had the blood of the Johnson family in her body, and her sensibility made it impossible for her to maintain cold.

If it was Adam, he would definitely say that human beings are always so stupid, burdened by emotions and desires, and easily shake their will. But Ophelia is no Adam.

Nothing to say the next night.

Early the next morning, the five people gathered outside the City Lord's Mansion with different moods. Master Black didn't care about their emotions. He nodded in satisfaction when he saw that they were not late, and then simply said: "Then, let's go."